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Updated: May 9, 2026
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) for Memory Enhancement
Published on: September 18, 2021
Battery powered thought: enhancement of attention, learning, and memory in healthy adults using transcranial direct
Brian A Coffman1, Vincent P Clark, Raja Parasuraman
1The Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, MSC03-2220, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA; The Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico, MSC08-4740, Albuquerque, NM 87131-5223, USA; Psychology Clinical Neuroscience Center, University of New Mexico, MSC03-2220, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA; The Mind Research Network and Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, 1101 Yale NE, Albuquerque, NM 87106, USA.
Abstract:
This article reviews studies demonstrating enhancement with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of attention, learning, and memory processes in healthy adults. Given that these are fundamental cognitive functions, they may also mediate stimulation effects on other higher-order processes such as decision-making and problem solving. Although tDCS research is still young, there have been a variety of methods used and cognitive processes tested. While these different methods have resulted in seemingly contradictory results among studies, many consistent and noteworthy effects of tDCS on attention, learning, and memory have been reported. The literature suggests that although tDCS as typically applied may not be as useful for localization of function in the brain as some other methods of brain stimulation, tDCS may be particularly well-suited for practical applications involving the enhancement of attention, learning, and memory, in both healthy subjects and in clinical populations.
